HIGHLIGHTS

Two buses are missing and a few other vehicles are feared to have been swept away. (Photo: Twitter @journovidya)

HIGHLIGHTS

Bridge on Mumbai Goa highway collapses.

There were 2 parallel bridges. The old one collapses.

Two vehicles feared swept away.

A bridge on the Mumbai-Goa highway collapsed late last night, bringing traffic to a complete halt. Approximately 80 per cent of the bridge had collapsed according to the local deputy superintendent, Pranjali Sonawane.

Two buses are missing and a few other vehicles are feared to have been swept away, Raigad District collector Sheetal Ugale said today. Raigad SP Suvez Haque and Collector visited the spot where the bridge once stood.

Darkness had hampered operations, which resumed this morning.

Relatives of missing passengers can contact on toll free number 1077.

UPROAR IN MAHARASHTRA ASSEMBLY

The Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly today sought a judicial probe into the Mahad tragedy, where at least 22 people in two buses were swept away after a British-era bridge collapsed on the Mumbai-Goa Highway.

Raising the issue in the State Assembly, former CM Prithviraj Chavan said a judicial probe should be conducted and action taken against those guilty of allowing the old bridge to remain open for traffic.

"The life of the bridge, built by the British, had ended after completion of 100 years. Despite this, an officer certified in May that the bridge was good for traffic. A case against 302 IPC should be filed against that officer," former Deputy CM Ajit Pawar said.

A case of IPC 302 should also be filed against PWD minister Chandrakant Patil, he said.

"How could a wrong audit of the bridge be conducted," the NCP leader asked.

"Why were warnings of the weather bureau ignored ? The state government is responsible for this tragedy," he said.

Minister for Public Works Eknath Shinde told reporters that a structural audit of all bridges in Maharashtra been ordered after todays tragedy.

Two state transport buses with 22 people have gone missing after the vehicles were swept away in the swollen Savitri river in Konkan region (Raigad) as an old bridge collapsed at Mahad late last night bringing traffic on the stretch to a halt.

WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR

The bridge on the Mumbai-Goa Highway came down late last night.

Two buses of state transport with 18 passengers, two drivers and two conductors have gone missing in the Mahad tragedy.

The Coast Guard has deployed a Chetak helicopter to carry out search for people

One bus was headed to Borivali, Mumbai.

Rafting team was called in for rescue operation.

INCIDENT

A bridge at Mahad on the Mumbai-Goa Highway collapsed late last night. The bridge was an old one constructed during the British era. There was also another bridge.

The old bridge was the one that collapsed. While the old bridge was used for vehicular traffic from Goa to Mumbai, the new bridge is used for traffic going from Mumbai to Goa. The new bridge was also closed down immediately after old bridge collapsed but has stated operating again now.

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis was informed about the situation around 2 am. Fadnavis, who is monitoring the situation closely since morning said, "There were two parallel bridges; one is a new bridge and one constructed during the British era. The old one collapsed."

The primary reason seems to be the high pressure caused due to flooding of river Savitri due to heavy rains in catchment of Mahabaleshwar, he said. "Spoke to Raigad SP and Collector about bridge collapse on Mumbai-Goa Highway. Administration has rushed to spot for rescue and immediate measures," Fadnavis said.

"Traffic on highway is stopped. Administration is ascertaining strength and stability of new bridge," he tweeted.

Sources claim the primary reason for the collapse would seem to be the high pressure caused due to flooding of the river Savitri as a result of the heavy rains in the catchment of Mahabaleshwar. The cause will be clearer over the next few hours as information keeps coming in.

There is no confirmed assessment about the number of casualties since the area is very dark. Relief operations are on going at a substantial pace as the first few hours after the accident is vital in order to rescue survivors.